Tag: China Smartphone market

  • Huawei Leads China’s Foldable Market as Competitors Lag Behind

    Huawei Leads China’s Foldable Market as Competitors Lag Behind

    IDC has published a fresh market analysis indicating that the foldable phone sector in China faced both advancements and hurdles in 2024. Huawei, which introduced foldable models like the Mate X6 and Mate XT Ultimate this year, is currently the frontrunner in China’s foldable phone landscape.

    Huawei’s Strong Position

    According to the IDC survey, Huawei dominates the foldable phone industry in China, holding nearly 50 percent market share. Honor follows closely with 20.6 percent, and Vivo takes 11.1 percent, bolstered by solid offerings such as the X Fold 3 series. Xiaomi comes in fourth with a 7.4 percent share, owing to the success of its inaugural clamshell foldable. Even though Oppo didn’t launch any new foldable devices in 2024, it still managed to maintain a 5.3 percent share thanks to positive user feedback. Interestingly, Samsung, a worldwide leader in foldable technology, has yet to make a significant impact in China’s competitive market.

    Market Trends and Challenges

    In terms of market dynamics, foldable phone shipments reached 9.17 million units in 2024, marking a 30.8 percent increase from the previous year. However, the fourth quarter saw a 9.6 percent drop in shipments, resulting in a total of 2.5 million units. This represented the first decline after nine quarters of steady growth. While enhancements in design, durability, and battery performance have made foldable phones more attractive, factors like high prices, durability concerns, and limited internal space remain barriers for wider adoption.

    Recovery in Smartphone Market

    China’s smartphone market showed significant recovery in 2024 after two years of decline, with shipments hitting around 286 million units—an increase of 5.6 percent year-on-year. This growth can be attributed to the rising demand for AI features, better displays, and extended battery life, especially in the first half of the year. Although demand began to slow down towards the year’s end, upcoming government-supported consumer subsidy programs in 2025 are predicted to give the market another boost.

    Experts believe this recovery offers a vital chance for manufacturers to innovate and take advantage of changing consumer preferences. Nevertheless, companies need to strike a balance between immediate profits and long-term growth to avoid the risk of depleting future demand too soon.

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  • China’s Smartphone Market Surges 6.5% in 2023 amid Android’s Dominance over iOS

    China’s Smartphone Market Surges 6.5% in 2023 amid Android’s Dominance over iOS

    China’s Smartphone Market Sees Growth in 2023

    The smartphone market has become highly competitive, with manufacturers like Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, and other brands vying for market share and increased sales. With the recent global decline in smartphone sales, it is interesting to see how the market performed in 2023. According to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, China’s smartphone shipments rose by 6.5 percent year-on-year in 2023.

    Factors Influencing the Global Smartphone Market

    The global smartphone market has been experiencing a decline recently, mainly due to two factors. Firstly, people are hesitant to spend money due to the global inflation that resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. Secondly, smartphones now offer more performance than is necessary for daily tasks. Even entry-level phones can take good photos, provide sufficient performance, and charge quickly. Mid-range and flagship smartphones from the past few years offer a user experience far beyond what is required. As a result, people no longer feel the same need to invest heavily in new technology.

    China’s Market Performance in 2023

    Despite the global decline, the smartphone market in China experienced growth in 2023. Shipments rose by 6.5% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 289 million units. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for 5G technology. Out of the total shipments, 240 million were 5G models, accounting for 82.8% of phone sales in China. The country’s strong presence in the tech industry and the availability of favorable tariffs from operators have contributed to the surge in demand for 5G smartphones.

    Market Leadership and Brand Preferences

    Local brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo continued to dominate the market by selling 231 million units. On the other hand, Samsung and Apple held a combined share of 58 million units. Despite Apple being the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, the data suggests that China’s contribution to this growth is relatively modest. It appears that users in the region still prefer Android over iOS.

    Increased Competition and Product Offerings

    In 2023, a total of 406 phones were introduced in China, marking a 5.5% increase from the previous year. This is potentially the highest number of new phone releases globally. China’s status as a technology production hub has nurtured various local brands, fostering competition in the market. However, only a few of these brands have managed to move beyond the “others” category in market statistics and gain a significant market share.

    In conclusion, while the global smartphone market has been on a decline, China’s market showed growth in 2023. The increasing demand for 5G technology and the availability of favorable tariffs have contributed to this growth. Local brands continue to dominate the market, while global brands like Samsung and Apple have a relatively smaller presence. With increased competition and a wide range of product offerings, the Chinese smartphone market remains dynamic and highly competitive.

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